Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Sri Lanka (Ratification: 1950)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Sri Lanka (Ratification: 2019)

The Committee notes the Government’s reply to its earlier comments.

Prison labour

1.  The Committee notes from the Government’s reply to its 1998 general observation that there are no private prisons in the country, but that a work release scheme (in operation since 1974) allows the employment of prisoners outside prison premises in two private sector institutions, and that prisoners are employed inside and outside the prisons under private contractors for the purpose of constructing prison buildings and for the related maintenance work. The Committee notes the Government’s indications concerning prisoners’ consent, wages and conditions of work. It requests the Government to supply, in its next report, copies of agreements concluded by prison authorities with private contractors involving the employment of prisoners and of the form of consent to be signed by the prisoners.

Freedom of career military servicemen to terminate their service

2.  The Committee previously noted that officers of the regular force or regular force reserve do not have the right to resign their commission, but may be allowed by the President to do so, under section 11 of the Air Force Act, 1949, the Navy Act, 1950, and the Army Act, 1949. The Committee also noted that, under section 10, every officer shall hold his appointment during the President’s pleasure.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement in the report that the duration of appointment of a commissioned officer is not specified. It also notes statistical data supplied by the Government concerning the numbers of officers whose application for resignation was accepted or rejected.

Referring to paragraphs 33 and 67-73 of its 1979 General Survey on the abolition of forced labour, the Committee wishes to recall that, under the Convention, career military servicemen should not be denied the right to leave the service, in time of peace, either at certain reasonable intervals or by means of notice of reasonable length, subject to the conditions which may normally be required to ensure the continuity of the service. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on measures taken or envisaged in order to bring the statutory provisions governing the resignation of officers in time of peace into conformity with the Convention on this point.